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Whole Foods is all in for Fort Myers

Whole Foods is all in for Fort Myers

Move over Naples. Whole Foods is coming to south Fort Myers, the real estate community learned at the real estate industry's Market Trends event Wednesday night.

"It's the right place at the right time," said Land Solutions CEO Randy Thibaut, who headlines the region's market forecast and brokered the Whole Foods commercial transaction. "It will be well-received, and we're happy to be a part of it."

Think olive bar, draft craft beer and the works as this Whole Foods store will be 45,000 to 50,000 square feet of organic gourmet foods rather than the a smaller 365 Whole Foods version.

Can Fort Myers support the brand's premium-priced product?

"They believe it can," said Inge & Associates Ron Inge, a Land Solutions partner. "They like the market a great deal and have found a location they're very much involved in."

While the details are still being worked out, the store is going to be in the south Fort Myers area at Daniels and Six Mile Cypress Parkway and expected to open in late 2017.

"We are working with the land owners, Lee County and the adjacent neighbors to ensure everything adheres to the quality model Whole Foods brings, especially the developer," Inge said.

The developer is S.J. Collins Enterprises. Based in Atlanta, the firm built Charlottesville, Virginia's Whole Foods store in 2011.

"Whole Foods also intends to be an active partner with Lee County right out of the gate," Inge said, reinvesting part of its proceeds back into the community with events and sponsorships.